Siloam Presbyterian Church

The Pastors of Siloam · 1990–2001

Sylvester L. Shannon

Pastor from 1990 to 2001, Rev. Shannon led Siloam in intergenerational worship, evangelism and outreach, and the "Footprints of Our History" exhibit began in his time.

Rev. Sylvester L. Shannon
Courtesy of Siloam Presbyterian Church

Pastor

At Siloam

Rev. Shannon was pastor of Siloam from 1990 to 2001. His leadership emphasized intergenerational worship, as well as evangelism and outreach. The African American Moment and Our Time with the Children became part of Sunday services.

In his time the church began the "Footprints of Our History" exhibit. It included artifacts dating back to slavery and the years after slavery.

On July 30, 1996, he gave the opening prayer in the U.S. House of Representatives as its guest chaplain. Representative Edolphus Towns of New York welcomed him to the House as the pastor of Siloam Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn.

Life and ministry

Sylvester L. Shannon earned a B.A. and a B.S. at Florida A&M University. He went on to earn a Master of Divinity at Duke University, a master's degree in counseling psychology at the University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. in human relations and speech communication at the University of Kansas.

In 1981 he was a charter member of the Xi Alpha Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. The chapter serves Prince William and southern Fairfax counties in Virginia.

Rev. Shannon died in 2011. His memorial service was held on June 14, 2011, at Bush Hill Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia.

Family

In 1996 he and his wife had three grown children.

Sources (7)
  1. Siloam Presbyterian Church, "The Pastors of Siloam," the church's earlier website (2026)
  2. Siloam Presbyterian Church, "Our History," the church's earlier website (2026)
  3. "Prayer," Congressional Record, vol. 142, no. 114, House, p. H8669, U.S. Government Publishing Office, July 30, 1996
  4. "Welcome to Rev. Sylvester Shannon" (remarks of Rep. Edolphus Towns), Congressional Record, vol. 142, no. 114, House, p. H8669, U.S. Government Publishing Office, July 30, 1996
  5. "Sylvester Shannon," C-SPAN Video Library, person page with the House session of July 30, 1996
  6. "About Us / History," Xi Alpha Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, n.d.
  7. "A service of witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ for Syl Lorenzo Shannon, Bush Hill Presbyterian Church, June 14, 2011" (catalog record), Funeral Programs, Thomas County Public Library System, Digital Library of Georgia, 2011